Domain Eukaryota Class Oligohymenophorea Rank Family | Phylum Ciliophora Order Apostomatida | |
The Foettingeriidae are a family of apostome ciliates of the order Apostomatida. Like other apostomes, they are symbiotic with Crustacea, and live in microbial cysts on their host's exoskeleton for most of their life. They excyst, or leave their cysts, when their hosts molt their exoskeleton in order to feed on the exuvial fluids trapped in their host's molted exoskeleton.
Contents
Subfamilies
Genera of the Foettingeriidae family are separated into the exuviotrophs and the histotrophs.
Exuviotrophs
The exuviotrophs are a group of genera of the Foettingeriidae family. They only feed on the exuvial fluids trapped in the host's cast-off exoskeleton.
Histotrophs
The histotrophs are another group of genera of the Foettingeriidae family. Like the exuviotrophs, they feed on exuvial fluids of cast-off exoskeletons. They also excyst after their host dies naturally by injury and feed on the tissue fluids of the host's corpse.
Encysted state
Protozoa of the family Foettingeriidae are called phoronts when they are encysted. While the phoront is encysted, it does not feed. Phoronts are encysted primarily on the gills of crustacea. Phoronts are more likely to be encysted on smaller crustacea than larger crustacea.
Metamorphosis
Phoronts go through metamorphosis to prepare for excystation. Metamorphosis changes the body shape, organization, and physiology of the phoront to allow for rapid ingestion and storage of large amounts of food. Histotrophic phoronts metamorphose within a few hours of encysting on their hosts. Exuviotrophic phoronts can remain dormant for months after encysting and only metamorphose immediately before their hosts molt their exoskeleton.
Engorged state
After the protozoa excysts and feeds, it becomes swollen to thirty times its initial volume. This engorged state is called the trophont.